‘Our help comes from the Lord’

Most of us are aware of the work that is being done around a ‘way forward’ for our church leading up to the LCANZ General Convention in October this year. This has understandably led to many feelings, from hopefulness to anxiety, fear, hurt, anger, disillusionment, or a host of other emotions.

It’s a difficult moment for the LCANZ as we seek to walk together in unity of teaching and practice. We recall the days of peace and harmony in the church, and now we search for ways to maintain our unity in the face of theological differences. We struggle with the challenge of being church in our modern world. And with the challenge of what that should look like. We know the devil is always out to create division among God’s people. Where do we turn for help and hope?

We answer that each week as we pray, ‘Our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth’ (Psalm 121:2). The chief pastor of his flock, the church, reminds us that we should not be surprised by times of trial. He reminds us that he is there in our suffering – there with the suffering and victory of his cross. That his gracious care often comes in uncomfortable forms, like disappointment, trial, suffering and loss. These are not signs he has abandoned us, but of his zealous grace, his redeeming love toward us. The apostle writes in Romans 8, that if God ‘did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?’

So, my encouragement to the members and pastors of the church is to seek your care and direction from the Chief Shepherd. Come to him. God’s hope and direction for our future are found in Christ and his word alone.

• Let’s continue to receive his life-giving gifts as they flow from the font, the altar, and the word.
• Let’s turn to him in daily repentance and faith.
• Let’s ‘bear one another’s burdens,’ just as Christ has borne ours.
• Let’s pray constantly, pray for each other, for our leaders, for the unity of his church, and for faithfulness to his word.

Let’s pray, as we did in a recent liturgical prayer:
In all our doubts, dangers, and confusion, teach us, Lord, what we ought to say and do.
Give to us, who can do nothing good without you, the power to speak the truth and do your will.
Amen.